Rochester man faces up to life in prison on nine charges

DOVER - A 40-year-old man is facing nine charges for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in Rochester last year.

Nathan A. Fisher, 40, of 16 Wakefield St., Apt. A, was charged with attempted murder, two counts of first-degree assault, three counts of criminal threatening, simple assault, false imprisonment and obstructing the report of a crime.

The charges stem from a Dec. 28 incident when Fisher allegedly hit his 38-year-old girlfriend in the head, grabbed her to prevent her from leaving the apartment, took her cellphone and used a knife to cut a three- to four-inch laceration in her neck while threatening to kill her and another woman, according to the indictments.

After entering the police station around 3:15 a.m. on the night of the incident, the girlfriend told officers she had been attacked. After she was sent to the hospital, police went to the nearby apartment where they found Fisher and discovered signs of a struggle in the kitchen. The couple's roommate told officers she was also threatened by Fisher, police said.

Fisher was placed in handcuffs but then experienced "medical complications" and was also transported to the hospital. He was charged after regaining consciousness several hours later. Bail was initially set at $50,000 cash.

A Strafford County grand jury handed up the indictments March 14.

Attempted murder could result in a maximum penalty of a life sentence and a $4,000 fine. Each count of first-degree assault is a Class A felony, which could each yield a sentence of 7½ to 15 years in prison and a $4,000 fine. Criminal threatening is a Class B felony and each count could result in up to 3 ½ to 7 years in prison and a $4,000 fine, while simple assault, false imprisonment, and obstructing the report of a crime are all Class A misdemeanors which could each yield a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Fisher is scheduled to appear for arraignment in Strafford County Superior Court March 28 at 9 a.m.